Inserting machine



June 3 924- J. B. WHITM ORE ET AL INSERTING. MACHINE PIGUZQ Filed June 7',

4 INVENTORS J/mss 5. WH/TMORE JOHN E. FER'GUJON ATTORNEY Patented June 1924,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES BRYANT NHITMORE AND JOHN EBLING FERGUSON, O'IE BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO WESTINGHOUSE LAM GOMP....NY, A. CORPQRA'IION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

rnsnn'rme MACHINE.

Application filed. June 7,

T0 (4U Hf/1.0272 it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMss BRYANT l vrnrironn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bloomfield, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey and JorrN llnnme Fnncnson. a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bloomfield, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Inserting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines used in the manufacture of incandescent lamps and more particularly it relates to machines for iserting wires into the buttons of lamp stems to constitute supports for the metallic filaments in such lamps.

.ztn object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type with co-ordinati ng machine elements, by means of which the machine may be quickly and conveniently adjusted to vary the number of support wires successively inserted into an arbor during its complete rotation; as, for instance, a series of four wires may be inserted for one type of lamp and, by manipulation of the machine elen'ients, the apparatus will operate to successively insert a series of six wires.

Another object of the invention is the provision of certain machine elements interposed between a main driving mechanism and the wire-inserting mechanism and adapted to be manipulated to change the number of wires inserted into a stem during a given degree of movement, of the main driving member.

lttachiues for inserting filament-support wires may he briefly described as being constructed to vertically support and intermittently rotate a lamp stem about its axis. At each step during a complete or partial rotation of the stem, heat is applied locally to a portion of the arbor part of the stem, and a wire-inserting member carries a support wire toward, and thrusts the end of the wire into. the heated plastic portion of the arbor. The wire-inserting member then retreats and the arbor is rotated another step and the inserting operation repeated, thus, upon a complete or partial cycle of the arbor, a given nu'n'rber of support wires have been inserted into and about a given portion of the arbor.

1921. Serial N0. 475,773.

Machines of the above type, are essentially constructed to successively insert the support wires fo a given type of lamp.

It is obvious, however, that certain dif ferent types of lamps require a greater or a less length of filament wire and, in many such lamps, the number of support wires inserted in the arbor of the stem must be decreased or increased to accommodate different filament lengths. It has heretofore been the practice to employ a separate machine for each type of lamp requiring a different number of support wires, and, since wireinserting machinery comprises expensive and complicated mechanisms, a multiplication of such machines requires an increased investment and maintenance cost. It is known that, in lamp manufacture, the demand for various types of lamps fluctuates, and at times is greater for one type of lamp than another, and, therefore, great advantage is derived in employing a mechanism contenmlated by my invention which permits a machine to be expeditiously and. conveniently converted from the production of one type of lamp stem to that of another.

My invention will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

F 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a wire-inserting machine; parts of which are shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a. plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, partly in section on line ll -ll of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a means of adjusting the movement of a pawl with relation to the teeth of a ratchet wheel.

The present embodiment of the invention comprises a rotary stem holder and a Wireinserting mechanism which has a plurality of gears of different diameters slidably mounted on a rotary member which controls the movements of the wire-inserting mechanism. The rotary member is capable of as sociation with a stem holder and is adapted to cause an intermittent movement of the holder and the wire-inserting mechanism, in a given relation, whereby a wire is inserted into the stem subsequent to each movement of the holder. A given rotary movement is imparted to the rotary member by means of one of the gears connected thereto and to a driving member. Each gear is proportioned to rotate the member a given number of times and is so associated with other stop mechanisms that, when a given gear causes the rotation of the rotary member and the actuation of the Wire-inserting mechanism to insert a given number of wires into a stem, the machine will cease its operation, until the operator starts the machine after the [inished stem is replaced by another ready tor the insertion of wires. The mechanism may be varied and the holder operated to be rotated with a greater or less number of intermittent movements, depending upon the number of support wires required in the production of a given stem.

iny improved mechanism, as illustrated in the appended drawings, is applied to a support-W1re-inserting machine of the usual type, which includes a casing or frame 8 upon which is niounted various operative parts, certain of which are illustrated in a general or diagrammatic manner, however, only such parts are shown as are necessary to a. complete understanding of my im proved device. Other parts, which are well known in the art but irrelevant to the present invention, have been omitted.

upport-wire-inserting machines, as c 1r monly employed in the incandesient lamp art, are provided with a (onveyor l mounted rotatably upon a central shaft 5. Each conveyor is preferably provided with a plurality ofarms or rays 6 at the ends of which are disposed rotatable stem holders 7. The stem holders are supported in such manner that the button or buttons, of the arbor are positioned to travel, with the moving conveyor, to one or more places to permit the successive insertion of support wires, after the stem has been rendered plastic by means of the usual pointed tlame, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l.

"he stem holders are usually constructed with a pair of clamping jaws 8 which may be actuated in any suitable manner to secure or release a stem. The holder selected is adapted to be intermittently rotated and is provided with a sha'tt 9 journaled vertically in the end of a conveyor arm 6. The shatt nds downwardly through the arm and ha. SHTHPOK] thereto a. ratchet wheel 11 which is adapted to be rotated by n'ieaus ot a pawl I actuated by an adjaccntly disposed rotary member or shatt. 12 which, in turn. is rotated by means of its connection to a main driving member having any suitable driving tacc. such as a gear 13, which may derive its motion from any convenient source of power, as, for instance, a motor (not shown) connected to a spur gear 14 by a belt 15.

The rotary shaft 12 operates a gripping or wire-inserting member or ram 16 Which is slidably positioned in a casing 17. For the purpose of actuating the rar the upper end ot the shaft 12 has secured thereto a plate 18 having its upper surface provided with a laterally disposed cam surface 19 adapted to make contact with a pin 21 secured to the wire-inserting member 16. A rotation of the plate 18 thus causes the cam 19 to engage the pin 21. anc move the insert inn member to its outer position. The inward movement (it the inserting member is effected by the action of a cam surface 22- disposcd upon the under side of the plate 18 and a 'lapted to make contact with one end of a rod 21-; movably positioned in the casing 17. The opposite end of the rod 23 is disposed in contact with one end ot an arm 2st 0; a double-arm lever pivoted in a projection 25 and having the end of its other arm 26 in contact with a plunger 21" integral with the inserting member or ram 16.

The movement ot the shaft 12 drives the cam face 22 and causes it to make contact with and move the rod 23 to actuate the lever to bring the arm 26 against the plunger 27, which results in the for ard movement of the wii'e-insertin; member. A complete rotation of the shaft 12 etfects the backward and forward movements of the inserting member, and a support wire 28 is inserted into the button of the stem with each torwaro. actuation of the member 16. In practice, suitable means (not shown) are associated with the inserting member whereby the wire is received trom a roll supply, cutting-otlt' mechanism being provided and the tree end of the wire being formed into the well known pig-tail shape or into any other shape desired to receive a filament wire.

it will be understood that, upon a complete rotation of the shaft 12, the wire-inserting member is actuated to insert a wire into the stem and that, during the interim between each insertion, the stem holder is turned a given number of degrees, depending upon the number of teeth provided in the ratchet wheci 11. The ratchet wheel 11 is moved intermittent y. preferably by means or the pawl it) whi h engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The pawl to is carried on one end ot' a oscillatory arm 31 the opposite end of which is pivoted on a pin 32 secured to the casing An extension 3 ot the paw! it) has a spring 3;: secured thereto, the opposite cud of the spring being" tastened to the c: 1g 3, thus maintaining the pawlin engagement with the ratchetv wheel ll. i iach rotation oi the shatt 12 moves a cam 35 tastened thereto and positioned to rock the arm 3i, thereby moving the pawl to drive the stem holder '4" a given distance in arcordance with the number of teeth on the ratchet wheel. The ratchet wheel 11 may be replaced by another having a different number of teeth to vary loo the number of intermittent movements during a complete or partial rotation of the stem holder.

' Means are provided, however, whereby the rolze of the pawl may be shortened M hened and thus a number of teeth may be employed which is a multiple of some other number, and less number of intermittent movements and, consequently, produce an increase or decrease in the num ber of degrees in the are between the radially inserted wires. This control of the pawl may be effected in any suitable manner as, for instance, (referring to Fig. 3) by a set screw 36 which extends through the arm 31 and is adapted to malre contact with a rigid stop member 37. Thus, the range of move ment of th pawl may be limited by an. adjustment of the set screw which is fixed in position by lock nuts 38.

For example, a pawl may be operated to drive a ratchet of twelve teeth and rotate theholder in a series of twelve movements, or, by an adjustment of the set screw, the pawl will engage every alternate tooth and rotate the holder in a series of six movements.

Since, with each rotation of the shaft 12, the cam 35 actuates the pawl 10 and causes the stem to be rotated a given number of de grees, the wire-inserting means is also actuated to insert a wire, subsequent to each movement of the stem, irrespective of the spacing of the positioned wires, namely; the wires may be inserted in a series with their relative radial positions at 30 or in a series with 60 spacing.

In the operation of machines for inserting support wires, the conveyor 6 is revolved by the operator until a holder 7 registers with the wire-inserting mechanism with which it is temporarily retained in operative relation. The machine is then started, and the driving member 13 rotates to cause the rotation of the shaft 12. This is accomplished by means of gearing including a relatively small gear wheel ll integral with the gear wheel 13 and in mesh with an idler 42 secured to a stud shaft 12. The. idler 12 may be secured to another gear wheel 10, which may be in mesh with an intermediate gear wheel 43 rotatable upon a stud shaft 43. The gear wheel 43 may be disposed in mesh with the gear wheel 44 secured to a sleeve 15, mounted slidably on the shaft or rotatable member 12. Rotary motion transmitted from the gear wheel 13 will, thus, be imparted to the member 12. Connection between the sleeve 45 and the member 12 may comprise a pin 46 secured to the shaft 12 and disposed in a vertical slot 47 of the sleeve 15. The shaft may thus be driven by the gear or gears secured to the sleeve during a diversity of vertical positions of the sleeve. It is customary, after the above mentioned operations, for inserting a given series of wires, have been efl'ected, to bring the machine to a stop.

It is evident that any given number of wires may be spaced at intervals entirely around the stem or at given distance-s about a portion of the periphery of the stem, the number of wires inserted being governed by the ratio between the main driving member and the gear secured to the rotary member 12, in combination with the adjustment of the pawl 10 or the pitch. of the teeth. of the ratchet wheel 11. Thus, if the rotary member 12 is driven at the rate of 6 to 1 by the driving member, and the ratchet is set to pull the holder with each rotation of the rotary member, it is obvious that, upon a complete rotation of the driving member, the stem will have had 6 wires inserted therein with 20 spacing and will have been rotated 120 or one third of a complete revolution. By suitable adjustment, other variations of spacing of the wires may be obtained, and by providing means for chang ing the relative movement of the main driving gear 13 and'the rotary member 12, a great variation may be obtained in the number of wires inserted in any given series.

In the present invention, with each complete rotation of the main driving member 13, the movements of the holder and the wire-inserting mechanism are stopped. This permits the operator to move another stem in position for the insertion of a series of wires. It will be understood that, if a series of live wires is to be inserted about a stem, the shaft 12 must be rotated five times before the machine is automatically stopped. This is readily accomplished by means of the connection between the gear wheel 14, proportioned to be rotated the required number of times with each rotation of the driving gear 13.

l Vhen it is desired to insert a greater or a less number of wires in a given series, the relative movement of the shaft 12 and the driving member 13 may be changed, by any suitable means, such as my improved construction, which provides an additional shiftable gear wheel 18 secured to the sleeve and adapted to be moved into mesh with an idler 4-9 which may be rotated by its engagement with a gear wheel 50 secured to the stud shaft 412, motion being transmitted by means of the association of the shaft 42' with the gear wheel 13 as above described. It will thus be evident that upon a complete rotation of the driving member 13, the shaft 12 will, by means of the gear wheel 48, when the latter is in mesh with idler 19, actuate the rotary member 13 to insert a different number of wires into the stem, by causing the shaft 12 to be rotated a greater number of times before the machine is automatically stopped.

The two gear wheels as and 18 employed in the present embodiment of the invention are preferably shifted by means of a clutch comprising a crank 51 pivoted on a bracket 52. One end of the crank may be forked and connected to a suitable recessed member pinned to the movable sleeve 45. The crank is retained in given positions by means of the engagement of aspring-actuate-d pin 54 with notches suitably disposed in the edge 55 of the bracket 52. The disposition of the two gear wheels 44 and 48 is such that the movement of the clutch throws one gear wheel into mesh and one out of mesh.

In practice, a wire-inserting machine equipped with my improvement may be operated to successively insert a given series of wires, for instance, when the gear wheel 44 is in connection with the driving member 13, the shaft 12 will be actuated to cause the wire-inserting member to insert the required number of support wires to produce a stem for one type of lamp.

It may be desirable to employ the same support-wire-inserting machine to insert a series of wires, of a different number, into a stem for use in connection with another type of lamp. In such case, the machine is readily adjusted to accommodate this variation by an actuation of the crank 51 to shift a gear wheel 44 or a gear wheel 48 of the desired proportion in operative connection with the driving member 13, thus causing the wire-inserting member 16 to insert a greater or less number of wires about the stem. The wires may be inserted either upon a complete rotation of the stem or during its partial rotation, as desired, depending upon the adjustment of the ratchet pawl or upon the pitch of the teeth on the ratchet wheel employed. 'When the wire-inserting member has operated to insert a series of support wires about the stem, the driving member has completed its predetermined movement and the operating mechanism is automatically stopped by any suitable means not shown). The operator then replaces the completed stem by another stem and rotates the conveyor 6 to bring a blank into position for the insertion of a series of wires.

Although the embodiment of the invention. as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, shows but two shiftable gear wheels, a plurality of suitably proportioned gear wheels of different sizes may be arranged to provide a variety of gear shifts to permit a greater range of production of stems having different numbers of inserted wires.

It is apparent that the main driving gear wheel may be of a smaller size and, instead of being rotated once, to a given number of rotations of rotary member 13, it may be provided to be rotated a given number of times between each stoppage of the mechanism.

lVhile I have illustrated a preferred means for practicing my invention, it will be understood that the invention resides, not in the particular form of mechanism but in a means for adapting a supportwire-inserting machine to be quickly adjusted for the production of stems employing a greater or less number of support wires, and

it is obvious that many structural changes may be effected therein and it is to be understood that such changes and modifications are to be considered within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lamp-making machine, the combination of means for performing a series of operations upon a work part and means for changing the relative movements of the operative parts of the machine to vary the number of operations in said series.

2. In a machine for inserting support wires into incandenscent-lamp stems, the combination of means for successively inserting a series of wires about a stem and means. for varying the number of wires in said series.

3. In a machine for inserting support wires into incandescent-lamp stems, the combination of wire-inserting means, a rotatable holder for a stem, a driving member adapted to rotate said holder and means for changing the rate of the relative movement between said holder and said driving member.

4. In a lamp-making machine. the combination of a stem holder, a driving member for rotating said holder intermittently, means for effecting the successive insertions of a series of wires in a stem carried in said holder and means for varying the relative movement between said wire-inserting means and said driving member to vary the number of Wires inserted.

5. In a machine for inserting support wires into incandescent-lamp stems, the combination of a Wire-inserting member, means for operating said member to suc cessively insert a series of wires into a stem and means for changing the relative movements of the operative parts of the machine to vary the number of wires in said series.

6. In a machine for inserting support wires into incandescent-lamp stems, the combination of means for supporting a stem, a driving member for rotating the supported stem in a series of intermittent movements, a wire-inserting means and means for changing the relative movement between said inserting means and said driving means.

7. In a machine for inserting support wires into incandescent-lamp stems, the combination of means for supporting a stem, a main driving means and means associated therewith for effecting an intermittent rotary movement of said stem, a wireinserting means, means for actuating said inserting means to insert a Wire into the stem With each intermittent movement thereof and means for changing the relative movement between the main driving means and said inserting means.

8. In a machine for inserting support wires into incandescent-lamp stems, the

combination of means for intermittently rotating a stem, a wire-inserting means operating to position wires in spaced relation in a stem after each intermittent movement and means for changing the relative movements of the operative parts of the machine to change the number of inserted wires and to vary the spaces between said wires.

9. In a machine for inserting wire supports into incandescent-lamp stems, the combination of a conveyor having a plurality of rotatable stem holders mounted thereon and capable of being rotated step by step, a driving means for rotating one of said holders during a stationary period of said conveyor, means for inserting wires into said stem and means for changing the relative movements between said holder and said driving means.

10. In a machine for inserting support wires into incandescent-lamp stems, the combination of a movable conveyor having a plurality of rotatable stem holders mounted thereon, a main driving member, means associated with said member adapted to intermittently rotate said holders, means for inserting wires into a stem carried by one of said holders and means for changing the movement of said holders with respect to said driving member.

11. In a machine for inserting support wires into incandescent-lamp stems, the combination of a conveyor adapted to be moved step by step, a plurality of stem supports mounted rotatably upon said conveyor, a driving member for intermittently rotating one of said supports, a wire-inserting member, means for actuating said member to insert wires in said stem and means for changing the ratio of movement between said inserting member and said driving member.

12. In a machine for inserting support wires into incandescent-lamp stems, the com bination of a conveyor having a plurality of rotatable stem holders mounted thereon, said conveyor being adapted to be rotated step by step, means for rotating one of said holders during a stationary period of said conveyor, a wire-inserting member adapted to insert wires in stems supported by said holders and means for varying the number of wires inserted in each of said stems.

13. In a machine for inserting support wires into lamp stems in various positions, the combination of a rotatable conveyor carrying a plurality ofstem holders, means for inserting support Wires in the stems, a common means for driving said holders and said inserting means and means for changing the relative movement of said wire-inserting means and driving means to vary the number of wires inserted.

14. In a machine for inserting support wires into lamp stems in various positions, the combination of a rotatable conveyor carrying a plurality of stem holders, means for inserting support wires in the stems, a common means for driving said holders and said inserting means and means for varying the relative movement of said stem holders and said driving means to vary the number of wires inserted.

15. In a machine for inserting support wires into incandescent-lamp stems, the combination of a. movable conveyor having a plurality of rotatable stem holders mounted *thereon, a rotary member and means connected with said rotary member for intermittently rotating a stem holder, a wire-inserting mechanism, a plurality of driving surfaces of various diameters secured to said rotary member, a main driving member disposed in operative relation to said driving surfaces for rotating said rotary member a given number of times with each rotation of said driving member and means for shifting said driving surfaces with respect to said driving member to vary the number of rotations of the rotary member With a complete cycle of said main driving member.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 6th day of June, 1921.

JAMES BRYANT WHITMORE. JOHN EBLING FERGUSON. 

